For over a decade, Taiwan has been trying to buy new submarines to replace its existing, and rapidly aging boats. The latest solution is to build
the boats in Taiwan. The rumors coming out of European shipyards is that Taiwan is quietly arranging to have European submarine building experts
accept contracts to discreetly work in a Taiwanese shipyard for a while. Meanwhile, some European builders have agreed to train Taiwanese welders in
the specialized type of welding used on submarines. Other negotiations are under way to purchase a wide array of specialized components needed for
diesel-electric submarines. Some shopping has been done in the United States, but the Americans have only built nuclear subs for the past half
century, and the best technology for diesel-electric sub construction is now found in Western Europe.

Little by little China is forming military links in Africa and in the Indian Ocean in order, experts say, to protect Beijing's economic interests
in the region.

In the past three weeks Beijing has committed to supporting Ugandan forces operating in Somalia and to helping the Seychelles fight piracy.

"It is very clear that the Chinese leaders recognize that military force will play a bigger role to safeguard China's overseas interests," Jonathan
Holslag, of the Brussels Institute of Chinese Contemporary Studies told AFP.

"There is a willingness, and even a consensus, in China, that this process will take place."

Well they could beef it up more with bases but apparently they have not built bases yet.

A military officer here said the temperature in Pyongyang the morning Kim died was -12 degrees Celsius. Cold weather is bad for patients with a weak
heart, so Kim's doctors would have discouraged him from going outdoors.

Moreover, Kim is famous for his nocturnal lifestyle and normally gets up around noon. Therefore it seems unlikely he was on a train that freezing
morning.

National Intelligence Service Director Won Sei-hoon told the National Assembly on Tuesday there were no signs that Kim's special armored train ever
moved out of the station over the weekend.

Witnesses

South Korean intelligence believes that only very few top officials around Kim knew of his death. But on his so-called on-the-spot guidance tours Kim
was always accompanied by hundreds of people including medical staff and bodyguards. Four of the train's 20 carriages are a mobile hospital. One
source on North Korea said "If Kim died on the train, all medical staff must have been mobilized, and it would have created quite a stir stopping the
train. There must be hundreds of people who witnessed it. Would it have been possible to keep this secret for over 50 hours?"

◆ Why the Need for Fabrications?

One senior South Korean official said, "Death on the train is possibly the best story that the North Korean regime can use to promote Kim as a
hardworking leader who worked for the people until the moment he died.

North Korea is unlikely to step up provocations as it undergoes a power transition following its leader's death, at least in the coming months,
because they would be very costly in terms of relations with China and South Korea, a prominent Korea expert said Tuesday.

Hopefully... but since Kim needs to make his case that he can lead the country and the army... and that 2012 is THE important year in NKorea... if no
provocations happen, there should will be lots of sabre rattling.

If something big happens, it would be real bad, after all, the South Korean economy (1 trillion), the Japanese economy (5.5 trillion) and the Chinese
economy (5.8 trillion) are in the balance. Not to mention any US intervention.

South Korean activists and defectors launched giant balloons containing tens of thousands of propaganda leaflets into North Korea on Wednesday, as
Pyongyang mourned the death of longtime leader Kim Jong Il.

The leaflets sent by a small group of activists gathered at the border are sure to infuriate the North, which views such actions as propaganda
warfare. The leaflets contained messages opposing another hereditary power transfer in North Korea, as well as portraits of Kim Jong Il and heir Kim
Jong Un. It wasn’t immediately known if they mentioned Kim Jong Il’s death.

North Korea's new young leader to share power with uncle, military after death of father (Reuters)

Who's the uncle Vitchilo?

That would be Chang Sung-Taek, the husband of Kim Jong Il's sister. Kim Jong Il's
brother-in-law.

He's very important to Kim Jong Un since he's the vice-president of the armed forces...Kim Jong Il was the head of the army obviously... so now he's
probably president of the armed forces until Kim Jong Un is appointed as leader of the armed forces... which will probably be done pretty quickly...
otherwise they might lose the army... even if they ``declared`` their backing of Kim Jong Un...

What would be interesting is if the uncle would die of a heart attack before Kim Jong Un is appointed head of the military.

President Lee Myung-bak said Thursday South Korea is trying to show North Korea it has no hostility toward the communist nation, stressing that
early stabilization of Pyongyang after the death of former leader Kim Jong-il is in Seoul's national interests.

With a young and foreign-educated leader taking over the helm of North Korea following the death of his father Kim Jong-il, experts cautiously
predict that he might take steps toward economic reform and opening, reaching out to the outside for economic cooperation.

North Korea has expressed its wish to continue a project with South Korea to unearth an ancient royal palace site in the North, Seoul's top
official in charge of relations with Pyongyang said Wednesday.

Kim Jong-un had been groomed for the North Korean leadership for less than a year and three months when his father suddenly died on Saturday. Kim
junior made his first official appearance at an extraordinary party congress on Sept. 28 last year. It has been only three years since he was tapped
as the heir in January 2009.

Kim Jong-il by contrast had 20 years to consolidate his position when his father finally died in 1994, gradually assuming greater responsibility.

Kim Jong-un therefore needed to concentrate on getting a grip fast on a few selected areas and spent most of his time trying to gain control of the
military and the security forces.

Three rival factions are jockeying for position behind the new North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the Daily Telegraph said Tuesday. Kim Jong-un's
"inexperience has opened the way for more practised operators to increase their influence," the British daily said.

According to the paper, the three factions are led by Jang Song-taek (65), Kim's uncle and vice chairman of the National Defense Commission; Kim
Jong-nam (40), his half-brother; and Kim Sol-song (36), his half-sister.

"For someone who was meant to be all-powerful, this was hardly the kind of succession that Kim Jong-il would have wanted," the daily quoted Kerry
Brown, head of the Asia programme at think tank Chatham House as saying.

At the moment, Jang is in the most advantageous position. "There was a 'consensus' that Jang could emerge as a regent figure, exercising
significant power at least during the new leader's early period in office," Brown added.

A person believed to be the younger sister of the successor to the North Korean leadership appeared on state TV on Wednesday. The woman, clad in
black traditional costume, was spotted weeping behind Kim Jong-un as he greeted mourners at Kumsusan Memorial Hall in Pyongyang where dead leader Kim
Jong-il lies in state.

An intelligence source said, "She looks slimmer than in the photos we have of her, perhaps because she's been crying a lot, but our analysis
confirms she is Kim Yeo-jong (24)."

Senior Indian officials recently visited Russia to remind the Russians, in no uncertain terms, that the INS Vikramaditya (the former Russian
Gorshkov), which is being refurbished and upgraded in a Russian shipyard, must be ready on time (March 2012) for sea trials. The Indians had cause for
concern. That's because last April the first 152 Indian naval personnel arrived in Russia to begin training on the Vikramaditya. The Indians were
there to learn about all the ship's systems so they can instruct the other 1,250 members of the crew. But at the same time the Indian sailors could
see exactly what progress the Russians were making on getting the Vikramaditya ready for service. Apparently some of these reports were not
encouraging.

This project is already four years behind schedule and $1.5 billion over the original budget.

Military chiefs are dusting off their plans for the defence of the Falklands after South American countries banned ships from the islands docking
in their ports.
Sources fear Prince William's six-month deployment to the South Atlantic as an air-sea rescue pilot next year could provoke more sabre-rattling.
Yesterday Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner claimed Britain was ready to use its military to steal natural resources 'anywhere,
anyhow'.

Yeah saw that. But I didn't post it because I cover Asia in this thread... but if there isn't a thread about it already, you should start one... the
UK could go to war with South America...wouldn't surprise me if they sacrifice Prince Williams to do that. Killing their own ain't a big leap for
these scum.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russia : Russia wants fair hearing on missile defense - Medvedev

Russia is ready for constructive dialogue on missile defense with its Western partners but hopes for give and take, President Dmitry Medvedev said
on Thursday.

The failure of foreign intelligence to detect Kim Jong-Il's death shows just how little is known about nuclear-armed North Korea, but moves by the
outside world to gain influence are also fraught with risk.

Jack Pritchard, a former US negotiator with North Korea, said that the most urgent priority should be contingency planning as he believed there was a
high chance that North Korea's system will collapse.

North Korea has accused South Korea of an "intolerable" response to Kim Jong-Il's death, a blast that came as diplomats at the United Nations held
a mass boycott of a tribute to the late leader.

Its Uriminzokkiri website said any mourning delegations from the South would be accepted, and lashed out at the Seoul government's "inhuman" decision
to allow only two such visits.

Thing is, if you are in South Korea and want to go mourn for Kim Jong Il, you are probably gonna end up in jail. In South Korea, even talking good
about the North puts you in jail or at least you get investigated...

North Korea has been trumpeting that it will become a "powerful and prosperous nation" by next year, the centenary of regime founder Kim Il-sung.
But leader Kim Jong-il's death 14 days before the New Year leaves experts guessing whether the regime will stick to the pipe dream.

This sure gives them a very good excuse to say they failed... Kim Jong Il was dying and is dead, so that's why life was harder and it's about to get
harder now...and the fools will believe it.

The North Korean regime is keeping close tabs on Chinese people leaving North Korea after Kim Jong-il's death to clamp down on the black market
during the mourning period. Chinese traders who arrived in Dandong, China on a train from Pyongyang on Thursday afternoon said when the train arrived
in Sinuiju, North Korean customs officers got onboard, searched all belongings and confiscated some.

There are fears that cross-border business projects may be delayed or stopped. A Chinese businessman from Hunchun who runs a company in Rajin, North
Korea said, "I decided to invest in North Korea because of cheap North Korean labor -- you pay a North Korean worker in Rajin 500 yuan (W90,000) a
month -- and there was huge interest from Chinese tourists. But now I am worried that Kim's death may have a negative impact."

So China is pissed they won't have their own slaves... how nice. But I guess people here would say the same thing if the Chinese government was
overthrown and the Chinese were starting asking for higher wages.

North Korea accused the South Friday of an intolerable response to the death of supreme leader Kim Jong-il by expressing sympathy for the North
Korean people, but deciding not to send a government delegation to Kim's funeral next week.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il collapsed on Dec. 15, two days before North Korea says he died, according to intelligence the South Korean
government has received from Japan. The collapse was grave enough for top North Korean officials to convene an emergency meeting, though whether he
died then or later is not known.

Since we know the official story he died on the train is BS, this might be closer to the truth...

The United States has yet to recognize North Korea's young leader following the death of Kim Jong-il, South Korea's foreign minister said Friday,
as the world is trying to read the tea leaves on whether Kim's abrupt demise could spark an internal power struggle.

North Korea's state media referred to late leader Kim Jong-il's youngest son, Jong-un, as "supreme commander in heart" on Saturday, a sign of the
successor's imminent rise to control the communist country's military.

American and Pakistani forces both made a series of mistakes that led to "tragic" US air strikes which killed 24 Pakistan soldiers last month,
reflecting deep mutual mistrust between the two nations, said a US-led probe released Thursday.

The results of the joint US-NATO investigation portrayed a disastrous spate of errors and botched communication in the November 25-26 incident, in
which both sides failed to tell the other precise information about their operational plans or the location of troops, officers said.

The probe found "inadequate coordination by US and Pakistani military officers" and acknowledged the Americans had relayed "incorrect mapping
information" to a Pakistani liaison officer that gave the wrong location for Pakistani troops at border outposts, the Pentagon said in a
statement.

So their explanation is that they didn't have good maps... right. With all the drones flying up there for what, 10 years now, you don't know what is
what? Really?

Pakistan's army chief General Ashfaq Kayani has ruled out a military takeover in the country, describing rumours about a coup amid a political
scandal as "misleading," the military said on Friday.

Good. As corrupt as the government is, the army is even worse.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japan : Japan coastguard arrests Chinese fisherman

Japan's coastguard said Tuesday it had arrested a Chinese boat captain in a possible fresh test for sometimes fraught maritime relations, just
days after a South Korean officer was stabbed to death at sea.

New North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Monday spent less than 10 minutes with a South Korean delegation led by Lee Hee-ho, the widow of former
president Kim Dae-jung, and Hyundai Group chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun. But experts have been busy speculating what kind of message their meeting
sends.

The two women went to North Korea to offer their condolences on the death of former leader Kim Jong-il.

It was Kim Jong-un's first meeting with prominent South Koreans. Lee met his father when she was South Korea's first lady during the first
inter-Korean summit in 2000. Hyun met Kim Jong-il three times to discuss Hyundai's business interests in North Korea, including package tours to Mt.
Kumgang. Both women are symbols of inter-Korean cooperation.

Dead North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's former chef Kenji Fujimoto says Kim's son and heir Jong-un will embrace Chinese-style reforms for the
Stalinist country. Fujimoto, who was Kim's chef for 13 years from 1988, was speaking to the Chosun Ilbo on Saturday before appearing on a TV Chosun
talk show.

North Korea's state television station showed the uncle and key patron of anointed successor Kim Jong-un in a military uniform on Sunday,
signaling his crucial role in the communist state's strong military following the death of leader Kim Jong-il.

North Korea said Sunday that it will decide the future course of the inter-Korean relations depending on Seoul's attitude toward condolences over
its late leader Kim Jong-il.

Ridiculous. But since South Korea has basically licked their boots, this is good... Anyway, this stance by the North Korean government means that the
``pro-North Korea`` party in South Korea will have good chances to win the next election planned for April in the parliamentary one and in December
for the presidential.

New North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is taking control of the renegade country's nuclear weapons, Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin told the National
Assembly's Defense Committee last Tuesday. "It also seems that Kim Jong-un has the final say on nuclear weapons considering that the power is being
handed over to him now," he added.

Kim Jong-un is vice chairman of the Workers Party's Central Military Commission, which now commands the military.

A South Korean intelligence officer said the North Korean military attaches the greatest importance to the nuclear arms, and Kim Jong-un is now in
charge of them. The regime is believed to have about 50 kg of plutonium extracted and up to 10 nuclear bombs, and there was some anxiety abroad who
would control them in the power vacuum after former leader Kim Jong-il died.

But some experts say the 29-year-old Kim Jong-un has no military background and cannot really be in charge of the nuclear arms. He is nominally only a
vice chairman of the commission, appointed alongside Ri Yong-ho, the chief of General Staff.

One South Korean government official speculated that Ri probably controls the regime's weapons of mass destruction, including any nuclear bombs.

Others believe the commission is collectively in control because it includes all the top military brass. They believe that the first thing the regime
did after Kim Jong-il's death was to ensure control of the nuclear weapons.

In Pakistan the generals are particularly keen to see president Zardari resign, or otherwise leave office. Zardari has been very vocal about the
need for the generals to take orders from elected leaders. The generals consider this heresy and not in the best interest of Pakistan. The Pakistani
military considers itself under attack and in danger of losing some of its independence and privileges. The Pakistani military is actually under
attack, both by the American and by many Pakistanis who are fed up with the arrogance and incompetence of the generals. The Pakistani military takes a
huge chunk of the national income, lives very well (especially the senior officers) and treats the elected government with disdain. In turn, the
civilian government now openly admits that it has no control over the military. This is a reality that, for decades, the generals and politicians
pretended did not exist. That has changed, and the generals don't like it. The generals are even less amused by the growing disdain they are being
shown by the Pakistani media and public.

The generals are losing power...the process has started. Hopefully they don't start some war to keep/regain their power.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russia : Russia replaces head of military spy agency:
official

Russia has replaced the head of its GRU military intelligence organisation, who presided over major reforms of the secretive body, a defence
ministry spokesman said on Monday.

The GRU (Main Intelligence Directorate) traces its history back to 1918 in the early months of the Bolshevik revolution, and unlike other Russian
secret services did not change its name after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

It reputedly runs vastly more agents abroad than the KGB's successor, the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), and is also active in space through a
network of military intelligence satellites.

According to the rumors, the former head of military spy agency resigned. Of course Russia is denying.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taiwan : 2012 ELECTIONS: Predictions diverge on Tsai’s chances

Two attempts to predict the Jan. 14 presidential election yesterday showed very different results, with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) leading President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) by 7.4 percentage points in one survey and trailing him by 0.4
percentage points in the other.

Even if in the second poll he's just losing by 0.4%... that's basically the margin error... If this continues, the nationalists are gonna win...

Maybe China will pull something a few days before the election to sway it toward the pro-China party... we'll see.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
South Korea : New Spy Plane to Watch N.Korean Missile Launches

The South Korean military will introduce new high-tech reconnaissance aircraft capable of intercepting communications and detecting missile
launches in North Korea.

South Korea's plan to purchase Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance planes has been put off by one year as the U.S. government has not agreed to
the sale yet, a government source said Monday.

With the planned purchase of the Global Hawks hitting a snag, South Korea plans to invite two more models of U.S.-made spy drones -- the Global
Observer made by AeroVironment and Boeing's Phantom Eye -- to bid for the project, the source said.

Good for South Korea... analysing the models to make the best choice...

A year ago, the Indian military announced that it would solicit a new assault rifle design, buy 44,000 of them and then have more of the winning
design built under license in India. But the process has moved very slowly and many Indians, inside and outside the military, suspect that the much
hated corruption in the procurement system is at work here.

The government has promised to achieve peace with all the tribal rebels within three years. That's unlikely, but at least there more talk of
negotiations than yet another military offensive. One of the side benefits of a peace deal would be to halt the growth of the drug trade. Government
efforts to reduce opium and heroin (chemically refined opium) production had some initial success, with opium production down twenty percent (to 330
tons) in 2010. But opium and heroin production seem to have recovered in the past year. Meanwhile, production of methamphetamine is soaring.

In their first meeting since the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, the top South Korean and U.S. nuclear envoys agreed Wednesday to resume
talks with the communist nation if the "right conditions" are created, according to a South Korean official.

Kim Jong Il's death might be considered a good career move. He had made a desperate promise that, by 2012, North Korea would undergo a massive
increase in living standards. Amazing things were supposed to happen by Kim Jong Il's birthday on February 16th. This was in response to the growing
popularity of consumerism in North Korea and knowledge of the higher South Korean and Chinese living standards.

However, Kim Jong Il's building plans had turned out horribly wrong. Not only would the plan not produce 100,000 new apartments but many were built
using substandard materials and unsafe practices.

The apartment debacle was expected to provide Kim Jong Il with a public-relations disaster in 2012, but with his timely death, that crises is avoided.
The heir, Kim Jong Un, can disavow the 2012 promises and choose another direction.

Well since he's saying ``no changes`` he's setting himself up for epic failure.

North Korea is expected to mobilise hundreds of thousands of mourners for Wednesday's funeral of late leader Kim Jong-Il, as the world watches for
clues to future powerbrokers in the nuclear-armed nation.

Activists helping refugees to flee North Korea fear that the death of leader Kim Jong-Il will lead to a crackdown on people trying to escape
repression and hunger in the communist state.

The North is believed to have stepped up patrols along its border with China, as well as security checks in public places, in an attempt to prevent
defections in the wake of Kim's death on December 17.

During Kim Jong-il's funeral on Wednesday, seven officials apart from new leader Kim Jong-un walked alongside the hearse carrying the body, in a
sign that they will form the inner core of the new regime. The seven "publicly declared their loyalty and allegiance to Kim Jong-il and his heir
Jong-un. They will be the core figures of the new era," a South Korean official said.

The other six also enjoyed a series of promotions since Kim Jong-un was made heir to the throne in January 2009. Vice Marshal Ri Yong-ho is Kim
Jong-un's military tutor and chief of the Army's General Staff. Then there was Kim Jong-gak, the first deputy director of the Army's General Political
Bureau, which monitors every movement of North Korean Army officers. Chung Sung-jang, a senior researcher at the Sejong Institute said, "Kim Jong-gak
played the most important role in Kim Jong-un getting a grip on the military."

U Dong-chuk, the first deputy director of the State Security Department and a member of the National Defense Commission, is also regarded as one of
the closest aides to Kim Jong-un.

Kim Yong-chun, a vice chairman of the National Defense Commisson which ran the country in Kim Jong-il's day, found himself standing behind Ri Yong-ho.
He became one of the closest aides to Kim Jong-il after he thwarted a coup attempt in the 6th Corps in 1995, but has not been promoted recently.

Kim Ki-nam, director of the party's Propaganda Department, and Choe Tae-bok, chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly, who are two very senior
figures of the Workers Party, are also part of the Gang of Seven.

Choe, who has worked in education and science, is likely to have been entrusted with technological development.

The United States is preparing for talks that could lead to cuts in tactical nuclear weapons and warheads in storage in a future arms agreement
with Russia, a senior arms control official said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

Russia on Tuesday successfully test fired its long range ballistic missile RS-18 from its Baiknonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan with a new warhead
aimed at overcoming Western air defence systems, news agencies said.

The Abkhaz parliament has ratified an agreement with Russia on creation of a joint military base in the breakaway Georgian republic, a RIA Novosti
correspondent reported on Tuesday.

Russia has signed agreements with Abkhazia and another breakaway Georgian republic, South Ossetia, to set up military bases there for an initial term
of 49 years, with possible extensions for an additional 15 years.

Facing an emboldened and heavily armed China in a territorial stand-off, Vietnam is looking to swell its naval reputation with enhanced firepower
and renewed pride in its maritime past.

Hanoi has accelerated spending on sea power in recent years to counter the increasing dominance of the Chinese navy, experts say, and reassure a
Vietnamese population wary of its larger neighbour and former coloniser.

If voting day were tomorrow, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) would lead her main rival,
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), by 2.1 percentage points, a poll by the Taiwan Brain Trust showed
yesterday.

It's gonna be a pretty close election.

And so far China hasn't done much of anything to sway the election in their favor, a few polls showing how the pro-China candidate would win but
that's about it...

Even while I’m here at the CNN Election Center in Atlanta getting ready for the Iowa caucuses, I’m hearing disturbing murmurings from my
national security sources in Washington about North Korea.

They clearly don’t know what the new leadership in Pyongyang is going to do, but they are bracing for a possible provocation on the Korean
peninsula.

The U.S. fear is that the new leader, Kim Jong Un, is going to orchestrate some risky act against South Korea to create tension. The goal would be to
help consolidate his position by rallying the North Korean people around him.

He won't do squat. His father did nothing of the sort when he came unto power. But Wolf Blitzer, the MSM shill, saying things like that, it's kinda
scary considering what the US-SK could stage to start trouble.

Kim Jong Un, since he's new, will not stand for US provocations like his father did. His father didn't have to prove himself. Jong Un does. So any US
drills in contested waters or speakers on the border being activated or any type of provocation by the South-US is dangerous.

S. Korea says open to nuclear talks with N. Korea but warns against provocation (AP)

President Lee Myung-bak said Monday that South Korea has left a "window of opportunity" open to improve relations with North Korea as the North's
new leader Kim Jong-un took over the communist state following the death of his father.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences projected in 2008 that China will be able to match the U.S. in terms of military power after 2050 at the earliest,
while it will take a further 20 or 30 years to finally catch up -- making it difficult for China to overtake the U.S. in this area within this
century.

But some experts say Beijing is being excessively humble in making such projections, as the country has made strides in recent years in boosting its
naval, air, space and missile capabilities.

Liu said at that time, "We will establish control of the primary island chain by 2010 and the second one by 2020, while resisting U.S. domination of
the Pacific and Indian oceans by 2040."

South Korea's military is working hard to deal with China's growing presence. In preparation for the deployment of China's first aircraft carrier, for
example, it is developing a supersonic anti-vessel cruise missile. It is also considering producing small submarines that are difficult to detect in
shallow waters like the West Sea.

The traditional joint New Years editorial of North Korea's official papers was mostly devoted to stressing dead leader Kim Jong-il's legacy and
his "songun" or military-first doctrine, as if to reassure everyone that nothing will change now that his 20-something son Kim Jong-un has taken
over.

They say that, but they will have to change... or the regime will collapse. Chinese-type economic reforms most likely.

New North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Sunday made his first order of business since his father's funeral a visit to the armored division that
gave birth to the regime's "songun" or military-first doctrine, the official KCNA news agency reported.

Kim Jong-un's visit to a historically important armored division on New Year's Day can be interpreted as a warning to South Korea, pundits
believe. When his father Kim Jong-il last visited the tank division on Jan. 5, 2010, North Korean state TV showed drills simulating an invasion of the
South.

A South Korean intelligence official said, "Two months after Kim Jong-il's visit to the 105th Seoul Ryu Kyong-Su Guards Division in 2010, North Korea
sank the Navy corvette Cheonan. We should watch carefully what the result of Kim Jong-un's visit on Sunday will be."

North Korea's new leader, Kim Jong-un, has risen to the supreme commander of the communist nation's massive armed forces, state media reported
Saturday, a strong indication that the young son of late leader Kim Jong-il is solidifying power.

Pakistan and India on Sunday exchanged lists of their nuclear sites under an accord which prohibits both sides from attacking these locations, the
foreign ministry in Islamabad said.

This is great.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
China : An Acceptable Alternative

While Taiwan and China continue to prepare for war they also increase their economic cooperation. Starting in 2012, Taiwanese can set up
individual businesses in China (as opposed to investing in larger operations with Chinese partners). At the same time, three million Chinese tourists
visited Taiwan in the last three years as part of groups. Starting six months ago, individual Chinese tourists were allowed to visit. China hopes to
conquer Taiwan by force or economic integration, whichever works best.

Fears surrounding the commercial debut of the China’s Beidou satellite navigation system last week have centered on the development by the
Chinese military in recent years of a bomb kit that can transform “dumb” bombs into “smart” ones.

Chief among them is the Lei Shi-6 (LS-6) “Thunder Stone” precision-guided glide bomb first unveiled by the Luoyang Optoelectro Technology
Development Center in late 2006. The guidance “fit,” which is attached to conventional bombs and has deployable wings, can support a number of
bomb weights, from 50kg to 500kg, Jane’s Defence Weekly reported last year.

After eight years of negotiations, and constant money shortages, Indonesia has finally signed up to buy three South Korean Chang Bogo class
submarines. These are an improved version of the German Type 209, but built in South Korea under license. The Chang Bogos are 1,200 ton boats that are
55.9 meters (174 feet) long, have a top speed while submerged of 39 kilometers an hour, and a top surface speed of 20 kilometers an hour. Range is
20,900 kilometers at a surface speed of 7.4 kilometers an hour. Endurance is 50 days and the highly automated boat has a crew of only 31. Armament is
14 torpedoes fired from eight 533mm (21 inch) tubes.

A legislator accused the prosecutor-general of dragging his feet in opening up an investigation into alleged government spying on candidates

The Ministry of Justice’ Investigation Bureau (MJIB) has ordered that all documents related to monitoring President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九)
opponents in the presidential election must be destroyed after the illegal practice was disclosed by the media, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
said yesterday, citing an anonymous source inside the bureau.

Documents provided by the source seem to confirm the existence of a project, codenamed “An-Ping-Shun Project,” to monitor DPP presidential
candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and People First Party (PFP) candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜), DPP lawyer Hsu Kuo-yong (徐國勇) said at a DPP
legislative caucus press conference.

Ma is such a POS...if this is true. And this might give the election for the nationalists.

The United States has called on China to use its influence with North Korea to urge "restraint" by the North's new leadership, a senior U.S.
diplomat said Thursday, as the international community keeps a wary eye on the sensitive transition of dynastic power in Pyongyang.

South Korea said Thursday it will push for working-level contacts with North Korea as part of efforts to maintain peace and stability on the
peninsula following the sudden demise of leader Kim Jong-il.

South Korea will soon sign a joint operational plan with the United States to counter potential North Korean provocations and will hold regular
joint exercises accordingly, the defense ministry said Wednesday.

So more exercises uh... you just said ``no more provocations``... double talk yet again.

South Korea and the United States will soon sign a new plan on countering any North Korean attacks, Seoul said Wednesday, amid international
wariness over the abrupt leadership transition in Pyongyang.

China remains committed to the status quo on the Korean Peninsula and has no interest in regime change in North Korea no matter how exasperated it
may be with Pyongyang's military brinkmanship and refusal to reform, experts say.

The mantra of Chinese Foreign Ministry and other spokespeople is "peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," which is trotted out whenever the
North launches a fresh provocation to the international community or South Korea, be it nuclear tests or localized military attacks.

Yep. That means no united Korea with US military bases on China's border.

North Korea's military is stronger than ever despite a struggling economy on the brink of collapse, a private think tank said Wednesday, calling
for more effective countermeasures to the growing threat.

Riiiiiiiight. Stronger than ever... From 10% of South Korean/US military might to 11%??

China's first aircraft carrier is likely to be commissioned officially early this year, according to press reports. Phoenix Satellite TV in Hong
Kong on Wednesday quoted Jingbao Yuekan magazine as reporting the 67,000-ton retrofitted Soviet carrier "qualified to be officially commissioned as it
solved technical problems concerning takeoff and landing of aircraft on the ship through three test voyages."

For the last decade, China has been reorganizing many of its ground combat divisions along Western lines. That is, the combat regiments and many
smaller support units have been recombined as three or more combat brigades, each with more support units and the ability to operate independently.
Now the Chinese Air Force is going the same way. They have a successful model to copy from in the U.S. Air Force.

For the last five months there has been a large scale effort to obtain information about American jet powered and space based (X-37) UAVs via
Internet hacking. The methods, and source of the attack, have been traced back to China. The attacks were done via Internet based attacks against
specific civilian, military, and government individuals.

The official Xinhua news agency said the number of entertainment shows airing during prime time every week had plunged to 38 from 126, in line
with an order the state broadcasting watchdog issued in October.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) ordered broadcasters to stop showing "excessive entertainment", and to air at least two
hours of news each evening from January 1.

Should be done here... cut American Idol and all that crap and force people to actually learn what is going on in the world..

The 20th anniversary of the official end of the Soviet Union was noted on December 31st, 2011, and there followed an unexpectedly vigorous public
debate over what it all meant. Most everyone agreed that one of the main reasons was the failure of the centrally planned communist economy. But what
tore apart the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) was the fact that the dozens of ethnic groups that had been part of the Russian empire did
not want to be ruled by Russians.

On January 1st, the Pakistani Taliban agreed to halt all terror attacks inside Pakistan. In return, the Pakistani military will not interfere with
Taliban movements, as long as these movements are part of supporting Taliban attacks against NATO forces in Afghanistan. The Pakistani Taliban will
deploy their forces into Afghanistan under the leadership of Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar. This deal is supposed to include the autonomous
Haqqani Network, which often links up with the Taliban, but considers itself a separate operation.

The Pakistani Taliban also promised to force smaller terror groups to cease attacks inside Pakistan. This is supposed to include kidnapping, theft and
sundry crimes committed in the name of God. Some Islamic terror activity is actually gangsters committing crimes under the guise of Islamic
radicalism. Some of this stuff will continue, but the Pakistanis expect the suicide bombings, assassinations and attacks on troops and police to
cease.

Well that's nice of our ally... and a big set up for war with Pakistan... and that means that the supply route will not be reopened.

In addition to making peace with Cambodia, the government has hustled of late to improve diplomatic and economic relations with the newly elected
government of Burma.

The government is also developing military links with India, which is part of the movement by China's neighbors to create an alliance that can limit
any possible Chinese aggression. The growth of Chinese military power and claims on neighboring territory has made all this coalition building
popular.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday provided what it called evidence that proves illegal monitoring was undertaken by the
intelligence apparatus, saying spying on DPP officials began as early as March last year during the party’s presidential primary.

For the second time in three days, the party disclosed documents it said were leaked by anonymous sources at the Ministry of Justice’s Investigation
Bureau to back the party’s claim that DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is being monitored by the bureau.

North Korea's new leader Kim Jong Un will turn 29 on Sunday amid speculation over how the country will celebrate his birthday that comes three
weeks after the death of his predecessor and father Kim Jong Il.

Besides, some speculate authorities may "adjust" his age to 30 because this year marks the 70th anniversary of the birth of Kim Jong Il and 100th
anniversary of the birth of his father and the country's founder Kim Il Sung.

Hopefully no stupid move by Un to ``prove`` he's strong or some BS like that.

The average North Korean has no idea what treasures a free society provides. They are unable to comprehend the joys of freedom of choice to do
what one wishes to do, free of governmental interference. Having never experienced freedom, they lack man's natural instinct to lay down their life to
fight for it.

An empty stomach can do much to cause one not so inclined to fight for a better life to overcome the fear of death to do so. Whether the North Korean
people are capable of reaching that point remains to be seen.

- North Korea on Thursday dismissed South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's recent New Year speech as nothing but "sophism," saying that it will
strengthen its nuclear power status if its "enemy" continues its provocative action.

- A senior Chinese diplomat has urged South Korea never to use weapons against his country's illegal fishermen, drawing criticism from South
Korean Embassy officials in Beijing Friday for his insensitivity to the recent killing of a South Korean Coast Guard officer by a Chinese
fisherman.

China and Pakistan on Thursday pledged to strengthen their military ties and step up defense cooperation to a “new level” during a meeting
between Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and top Chinese military officials in Beijing.

“China and Pakistan pledged to strengthen military ties and bring existing cooperation to a new level”, Xinhua news agency reported after General
Kayani’s meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Gen Liang Guanglie.

Musharraf had earlier been declared a proclaimed offender by the Anti-Terrorism Court in Rawalpindi for his failure to cooperate with
investigators in the case.

The senior prosecutor said that three important pieces of evidence had also been retrieved after the forensic report of Benazir’s BlackBerry had
been completed. He said that the evidence had also been added to the charge sheet.

The United States said on Tuesday that a gas pipeline project Pakistan was negotiating with Iran could violate US restrictions on major financial
deals with Tehran and Washington was already discussing this issue with Islamabad.

At a briefing at the State Department, spokesperson Victoria Nuland also said that a bill President Barack Obama signed into law on Saturday would not
lead to an automatic suspension of US aid to Pakistan.

Indian version of Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) is ready. Under Phase-1 deployment, the National Capital Region (NCR) will come under the safe
shield of programme Air Defence (AD). Sources in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirm to Express that the entire gamut of operations will be linked
to the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) in Delhi.

In Phase-II deployment, cities like Mumabi, Bangalore and Kolkotta could find a place, though the specifics haven't been yet finalised. "Missile
launchers, radars, interceptors and network systems have all being readied for for NCR. India will now be among the league of nations with BMD
capabilities,” sources said.

The Union government is planning to build 11 tunnels in the strategically important road stretches close to the Pakistan and China borders . Two
more tunnels will be built in Uttarakhand to improve connectivity in the hilly state. These all-weather tunnels, which will be built by the Border
Road Organization (BRO), would cover about 89km. These tunnels are expected to help rapid mobilization of troops and equipments besides providing
better connectivity to local residents, officials said.

A new, more austere U.S. defense strategy unveiled Thursday gives up on fighting major wars overseas and reduces active-duty troops from 570,000
to 470,000. The aim is to cut more than US$450 billion in defense spending over the next decade.

Of course the US said there will be no cuts to the South Korean presence...

The Defense Ministry has told the government that the new U.S. defense strategy would not have a negative impact on South Korea. But a South
Korea-U.S. military strategy envisions the deployment of 690,000 U.S. soldiers on the Korean Peninsula if a war breaks out, and such large-scale
deployments would be impossible under the new strategy.

Experts warn that the shift in U.S. strategy will mean a bigger burden for South Korea. Seoul is already set to regain full operational control of its
military from Washington in December 2015 and would have to lead wartime ground operations while the U.S. provides naval and air support.

South Korea can easily take care of North Korea... if China doesn't help North Korea, of course.
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Russia : Oscar Shifts From Quality To Quantity

Russia is planning to rebuild its Oscar II class nuclear submarines to carry a wide variety of missiles. Currently, each Oscar II carries 24 large
anti-ship missiles. But by rebuilding the missile launchers (which are outside the pressure hull) to carry more, but smaller missiles, each Oscar II
can carry up to 72 missiles. This makes it easier to overcome the anti-missiles of enemy surface ships. What is lost in range and warhead size will be
made up with better target detection and countermeasures technology.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) proposal to form a coalition government if elected has
sparked debate as the DPP yesterday said such a move would be Tsai’s solution to help end the nation’s political divide.

That would sure help peace between China and Taiwan if DPP is elected.

However, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who is seeking re-election, and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) ridiculed Tsai’s initiative,
saying it was only talk.

The Washington-based US-Taiwan Business Council has issued a five-point list of priorities for this year, including a pledge to continue fighting
for the sale of 66 F-16C/Ds and pushing for the US to assist Taiwan in buying diesel-electric submarines.

North Korea's new leader vowed in 2009 to wage war if the country's enemies shot down its long-range rocket, footage aired on state television
showed Sunday in the first official word of his role in military operations before his father's death.

An examination of U.N. and Chinese trade data reveals that exports to North Korea of products including cars, tobacco, laptops, cellphones and
domestic electrical appliances all increased significantly over the past five years. Most items crossed the border from China. The data reveal glaring
loopholes in the sanctions regime, demonstrating how China has stepped in as North Korea's main supplier of goods considered luxuries as other
countries have clamped down on such exports.

But the figures also hint at the emergence of a new entrepreneurial class in North Korea rich enough to buy imported goods. Some analysts say this
group could represent the strongest impetus for economic reform, and potentially undermine the totalitarian grip of the Kim family dynasty.

Officials from the Kachin Independence Organization’s armed wing have confirmed that on January 4 their fighters shot down a Burmese army
transport helicopter in northern Kachin State, Kachin News Group said on Friday.

Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou has overseen the most dramatic improvement in relations with China in the island's history, but economic anxieties
could dash his re-election hopes in next Saturday's vote.

Unless China pulls something just before the election.

"It's really too close to call, although Ma seems to have a slight edge, since the economy is not doing too badly," said Cheng.

Gee what would have happened if the election would have happened as planned (in April) with all the warmongering against Iran that will surely make
the price of oil spike? Ma would have lost for sure... now it's a close call.

A Pakistani citizen who pleaded guilty last year to attempting to export nuclear-related material to his homeland was sentenced by a US court
Friday to 37 months in prison, the Department of Justice said.

- South Korea's top policymaker on North Korea cautioned Monday against exaggerating China's role in inter-Korean affairs, saying the two Koreas
are the "principal players" in their dealings with each other.

The government and the NPA are arguing over how powerful the leftist rebels are, and how they stay in business. The NPA claims to have 16,000
armed members and control large rural areas. The police counter that the NPA survives with about 5,000 gunmen who extort over $5 million a year from
businesses and individuals and control no territory at all.

MILF and the government resume peace talks this month, and are still at odds over MILF demands for autonomy in the Moslem south.

The Philippines complained to China about a Chinese warship entering the Filipino exclusive economic zone (anything within 380 kilometers of land) and
violating a 2002 agreement by nations bordering the South China Sea.

A new radar of the fourth Voronezh class will be put into operation near the Siberian city of Irkutsk by the end of this year as part of
Russia’s early warning system, a missile defense spokesman said on Sunday.

The current overhaul of Russia’s missile defenses is also due to the new strategic challenges presented by the U.S.-led missile shield plans in
Europe.

The Voronezh class radars are a serious breakthrough compared to the previous generation radars of the Dnepr and Daryal class. The radar in Pionersky
has a range of 6,000 km and can simultaneously track about 500 objects.

The five former republics of the Soviet Union (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan) have become an economic and
political battleground between China and Russia. The more dynamic Chinese economy floods the five nations with cheap and popular goods. But the five
nations fear Chinese economic and political domination and turn to Russia for diplomatic support in keeping the Chinese at bay.

Attempting to consolidate support in pan-blue strongholds in the final days of the presidential election campaign, President Ma Ying-jeou
(馬英九) yesterday drew a passionate response in New Taipei City (新北市) and Hsinchu County, as residents lined up on the streets to cheer his
motorcade.

His appearance at traditional markets also caused a stir.

However, his momentum has been slowed by the lukewarm response he received in central and southern parts of the country.

During his motorcade campaign in Chiayi, Yunlin and Changhua counties on Saturday, cheering from residents who came out on the streets was sporadic at
best.

A source familiar with China’s policy toward Taiwan said Beijing has learned from previous elections and is ready for a win by either the KMT or
DPP

China has forgone blustery warnings and war games in the run-up to Taiwan’s presidential election this weekend, and will likely take a measured
response even if the independence-leaning opposition unseats President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).

“We are prepared for either scenario. There won’t be a big difference whoever wins,” a source familiar with China’s policy toward Taiwan said,
requesting anonymity to avoid political repercussions.

“If Tsai Ing-wen wins, the mainland will ‘listen to her words and watch her deeds’ in the beginning,” a second source with ties to the top
Chinese leadership said, also asking not to be identified.

North Korea's new leader Kim Jong-un will likely order a third nuclear test or another missile launch this year to consolidate his military
credentials, South Korea's state think tank warned Wednesday.

North Korea is likely to pursue continuity rather than change in its policies under the new leadership of Kim Jong-un, Seoul's top envoy to Moscow
said Tuesday, expressing hopes that the communist country will soon reengage in denuclearization talks.

Well he can't change his policies WHILE he's consoliding power. When he'll feel that he's fully in power, THEN he'll make changes... hopefully.

Prosecutors indicted the captain of a Chinese fishing boat with physical detention Tuesday on charges of killing a South Korean law enforcement
officer last month during a raid on the vessel for illegally fishing in Korea's exclusive economic zone.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao agreed Tuesday to forge closer economic ties and reaffirmed their commitment
to maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula following the death of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Jung Seung-jo and his U.S. counterpart Martin Dempsey will sign a joint operational plan to counter potential
provocations by North Korea. Jung will visit the U.S. for the signing at the end of the month.

"The South Korean military will take the initiative in carrying out the plan and the U.S. Forces Korea will provide support."

The South Korea-China FTA could have a major geopolitical impact on Northeast Asia as well. Until now, the security landscape in Northeast Asia
has been a Cold-War-style standoff between the South Korea-U.S.-Japan alliance on one side and China and North Korea on the other. But if the
Seoul-Beijing FTA is signed and economic cooperation increases rapidly, this traditional framework would crumble.

The United States is sponsoring the construction of facilities in Georgia on the threshold of a military conflict in Iran, a member of Georgian
opposition movement Public Assembly, Elizbar Javelidze has stated.

In addition, airports are being briskly built in Georgia and there are talks of constructing a port for underwater vessels in Kulevi on the eastern
Black Sea coast in Georgia.

This is very dangerous. This is the first step towards putting US troops right up Russia's border... which could trigger world war 3. Russia, after
nearly wiped off the map in WW2, doesn't take this kind of move lightly.
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Pakistan : U.S. launches first drone strike since deadly November attack

The United States has launched its first drone attack in Pakistan after more than a month-long lull, killing at least four suspected militants,
CNN has confirmed.

The drone fired two missiles on Tuesday at a suspected militant compound near the provincial capital of Miranshah in the North Waziristan region,
located in the country's volatile tribal belt that borders Afghanistan.

Leaks from Washington sources published in the mainstream American media also appear to suggest that an agreement is imminent. United States
officials have told the New York Times that according to the terms of a new deal, ‘the US will be forced to restrict drone strikes; limit the number
of its spies and soldiers on the ground; and spend more to transport supplies through Pakistan to allied troops in Afghanistan.’

Gee NATO bribing Pakistan... what a surprise. Yet again the Pakistani generals betray their own country for money.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
India : Israel backs India's bid for permanent UNSC
membership

Jerusalem Describing India as the “greatest democracy on earth”, Israel has said it wants New Delhi to become a permanent member of the
expanded United Nations Security Council.
Welcoming External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, the first Indian foreign minister to arrive in Israel in over a decade, President Shimon Peres said
Tel Aviv was following New Delhi with “great care and interest”.

With the air-version of BrahMos missile likely to be inducted in IAF within a year,works have already been started to develop BrahMos 2, the
fastest Hypersonic missile in the world, which would take final shape in five years, a top scientist said.

While the BrahMos missile has the speed of Mach 3 (speed of sound) moving at one km per second, the Hypersonic missile would achieve a speed of Mach 6
to Mach 7, double than that of the present missile, A Sivathanu Pillai, CEO and Managing Director, BrahMos Aerospace, told PTI.

The project director of the DRDO Advanced Systems Laboratory at Kanchangagh, Dr Tessy Thomas, said that India was ready to test launch the
nuclear-capable Agni 5 missile within the next two-three months

A dedicated team of 1,000 scientists are working round-the-clock to fully operationalise this missile which will bring targets as far away as northern
China within reach.

A scaled down Indian military delegation arrived here today for a four-day defence exchange visit after the original programme of sending a much
larger team was hit by a row on denial of visa to an IAF officer from Arunachal Pradesh.

The Committee for International Relations and Human Rights of Nepal’s parliament recently endorsed a policy paper (‘Nepal’s Foreign Policy
in Changed Context’) which besides offering suggestions on foreign policy also seeks an end to soldiers fighting wars under foreign flags.
“Gurkha recruitment gave the youth a small opportunity for employment, but serving foreign military powers has not always allowed the country to
hold its head high…Since, ultimately, Gurkha recruitment will have to end, it is necessary to create alternatives,” the paper recommended.

The eldest brother of North Korea's new leader Kim Jong-un has expressed doubts about his half-sibling's hold on power, anticipating the ruling
elite to extend their influence over the communist country, a Japanese newspaper said Thursday.

Well they can't really off him since he's the figure of the regime. If he dies and some nobody replaces him, the regime is gonna collapse.

On January 14, the architect of the "special state-to-state doctrine," which once brought the Taiwan Straits to the brink of war, will run for the
leadership of Taiwan.

Tsai Ing-wen of the anti-unification Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is competing with incumbent Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang (KMT) and the
People's First Party's (PFP) James Soong, who like Ma is pro-eventual unification.

Ma is likely to be the winner, but if the DPP were nonetheless to manage a return to power, a long hangover would follow.

So the Chinese government mouthpiece finally talks... and is endorsing Ma. Surprise... not.

Since there's another pro-China party running, Tsai could very well gain the advantage.

A fifth member of the US Congress has written to US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton expressing fears that Washington has failed to
“stay neutral” in the run-up to Taiwan’s elections.

US Representative Bill Johnson said that while he was aware of the US Department of State’s assurances that it was not taking sides, “I still have
reservations.”

A member of the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, Johnson is the latest of a growing
bipartisan group to express concern.

“Taiwan’s recent inclusion as a candidate for the US Visa Waiver Program, the large number of pre-election visits to Taiwan by high-level
administration officials and most recently the statement released by the Taiwanese National Security Council on its meeting with the American
Institute in Taiwan give me pause,” he said in the letter.

“Whether intended or not, the timing of these gestures give the impression that the US continues to support the current government of Taiwan and its
non-confrontational policy towards China,” he said.

A DPP win would be viewed as a setback for Hu Jintao and could lead others in China to push for a tougher policy, Phil Saunders said

Beijing could try to punish Taiwan if Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) wins the election on
Saturday, a US academic told a conference in Washington.

Chinese policy toward Taiwan is personally associated with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) and a Tsai victory would be seen as a setback for
him, Phil Saunders, director of the Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs at the Institute for National Strategic Studies, told the
Heritage Foundation conference.

This situation could lead others in Beijing to push for tougher policies, he said.

Apparently China will watch what Tsai do before doing something. And Jintao will be out of power by October anyways.

President Ma: "you don't wnt to provoke China like the previous administration did for eight years. That will not being any good to
Taiwan."

President Ma says he has "urged China to stay away from the election" in Taiwan and not to try and influence the result.

Ma says Taiwan wants to join US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Trying to say that he's not 100% pro-China... I don't think it'll work.

Right. Experienced leader who doesn't know squat in economics. The guy is a LAWYER. Tsai got a PHD in economics... so PLEASE.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Burma : US envoy: Burma weak against human trafficking

A top U.S. diplomat says Burma should amend its laws against human trafficking to meet international standards.

Oh really? I was reading Wikileaks documents last year on human/child trafficking in Saudi Arabia and Yemen and how it was openly done and nobody got
in trouble... and yet no words on that from the state department because they are our ``allies``.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
India : China And Pakistan Supply Indian Maoists

Even as China continues to harass India on security and diplomat issues, the Indian intelligence agencies have come up with far more disturbing
reports which have huge implications for India’s national security.

These classified reports reveal that Maoist leaders have been secretly visiting China’s Yunan province for arms training and China has set up a
weapon manufacturing facility in Myanmar’s Kachin province. The Kachin factory produces near-exact replicas of AK 47 rifles which are supplied to
the Maoists. The Indian government has long been aware that the Maoists are equipped with sophisticated weaponry, and now the source is known.

Even more dangerous is the growing proximity of the Maoists with Pakistan based Islamic terror group Lashkar-i-Taiba and terrorist leader Dawood
Ibrahim. The Indian Maoists have also cooperated with Islamic terrorist run drug operations. Several Indian states report that Maoists are pressuring
local farmers to grow poppy (for opium and heroin) on their farms.

Russia should only consider buying weapons and military equipment abroad under exceptional circumstances, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin
said on Wednesday.

Gee almost admitting that the Russian arm industry is dying and it needs to be reformed?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pakistan : Pakistan army warns of 'consequences' to PM charge

Pakistan's military warned Wednesday of "grievous consequences" for the country after the prime minister accused the army chief of violating the
constitution, adding to a sense of crisis that some believe could end in the ouster of government.

The government dismissed the defense secretary, a retired general seen as an army representative within the civilian setup, another ominous sign of
near-open conflict in a nation that has seen repeated military coups in its six-decade history.

The military is so corrupt... they don't like it when they are called on it... A coup by generals wouldn't change the situation much... but we would
probably see lots of protests in Pakistan.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bangladesh : Bangladesh 'war crimes mastermind' Ghulam Azam arrested

Bangladesh has arrested an Islamist leader on charges of masterminding war crimes during the 1971 liberation struggle against Pakistan, lawyers
say.

They accuse Mr Azam of crimes against humanity - including murder, rape, arson and looting - in 1971.

About 240 airmen from the 55th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and their fighters will be stationed from Sunday at a U.S. air base in Gunsan, 274
kilometers south of Seoul, for about three months to maintain stability in the region, according to the U.S. 7th Air Force.

After a two month halt UAV missile attacks in Pakistan resumed on January 10th, when four Islamic terrorists were killed by a missile launched
from an American UAV over North Waziristan. Three of the four men killed were described as Arabs. One was later identified as Aslam Awan, senior al
Qaeda leader who was in charge of external operations (planning attacks against the West). The next day, two cars, driving towards the Afghan border,
were hit in the same area. Six men, all described as "foreigners" were killed. As a result, tribesmen in general and Islamic terrorists in particular
in North Waziristan were quite angry. Many fired at the UAVs. But this was futile, as the UAVs generally stayed out of small arms range. As many as
six UAVs were seen over North Waziristan at the same time in the last week.

Last month, the Pakistan Army attempted to negotiate a truce with the Pakistani Taliban and found several of the larger factions willing to go
along. But there were too many Taliban factions with too many different goals for such a plan to succeed. That was made pretty clear on January 5th
when fifteen Pakistani soldiers were captured, and then killed, by one Taliban faction. It was later announced that this was done as revenge for the
killing of a Taliban leader by Pakistani troops on January 1st. There are many other Taliban factions on bad terms with Pakistani troops.

That's what happens when you supports extremists... one day, they turn against you. Payback is a biatch.

The prime minister stood before the Supreme Court and explained that "while he accepted the majesty of the law and the majesty of the supreme
court," he couldn't arrest the president of the country on charges of bribery as he enjoys "immunity under the constitution."

Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had answered the Supreme Court's summons only to avoid being held in contempt himself.

He got immunity? What kind of crap is that? He could rape people on TV and he still wouldn't go to jail?

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday said that while former ruler Pervez Musharraf gave into US demands on a single telephone call, the
decision to resume Nato supplies would be made by the parliament, DawnNews reported.

Pentagon figures provided to the AP show it is now costing about $104 million per month to send the supplies through a longer northern route. That
is $87 million more per month than when the cargo moved through Pakistan.

Pakistan is entering a slow-motion civil war, with its armed forces on one side, and its elected politicians and most Pakistanis on the other. The
trigger for the current crises is the accusation that the civilian politicians had tried to get U.S. backing for an attempt to purge the Pakistani
officer corps of anti-democratic individuals, and reorganize the military so that it is firmly under civilian control. This would cause thousands of
senior officers to lower power and money. Many more active and retired officers would lose economic benefits. The military pays lip service to
civilian control of the armed forces, but threatens another coup anytime the government tries to interfere with military matters. The big fear here is
that there will be another coup (the last one was in 1999, and lasted until 2008) and that the politicians will call their supporters into the streets
to block the military efforts to take over the government (replacing elected officials with officers). Such a confrontation could be bloody,
especially if many soldiers refused orders to fire on civilians.

That's what several analysts and Pakistani politicians have said in the last few months. Pakistan is heading for civil war.

Pakistan's wildcard politician Imran Khan says he is happy to go into opposition if his "tsunami" of popular support fails to bring him a
landslide victory at elections now widely expected within months.

North Korea's new leader Kim Jong-un made yet another visit to a military unit, his fifth this month, according to a state media report Sunday, as
the young successor tries to consolidate his power after the death of his father Kim Jong-il.

What was in Kim Jong-nam's mind when he asked a Japanese journalist Yoji Komi of Tokyo Shimbun in October 2010 to "get my thoughts in good order
and publish them at a suitable time?" It was immediately after his half-brother Jong-un was named as successor of his now deceased father Kim Jong-il.

Ya think? A coup d'etat could be seen based on reform rhetoric... unlikely but you never know.

South Korea, the United States and Japan agreed Tuesday to keep the door for talks with North Korea open, an official said after their trilateral
meeting intended to discuss the next steps in dealing with the communist nation under a new leadership.

Two years ago, the South Korean Coast Guard was issued new portable radios. These walkie-talkie type radios used technology similar to cell phones
in that they used repeater equipment (like cell phone towers) that enabled users of the radios to talk to anyone on the network (meaning all along the
coast). By themselves, the new radios have a range of only about three kilometers. The old ones, which did not use repeaters, had a max range of 4-5
kilometers.

Once put into use the new radios were revealed to have a serious problem. All the repeaters were on shore, and once a sailor was working beyond three
kilometers from shore they had no access to the repeaters. The manufacturer insisted the system, as installed, would work more than 50 kilometers from
shore. Moreover, many more coast guard operations were farther at sea, trying to deal with the growing number of Chinese and North Korean fishing
boats illegally operating within the South Korea exclusive economic zone. This extends nearly 400 kilometers from shore.

South Korea has ordered twenty locally made FA-50 fighter-bombers for $30 million each. The aircraft will be equipped with South Korean, American,
and Israeli electronics. The single engine, single seat aircraft is intended to eventually replace South Korea's aging fleet of 150 F-5 fighters. But
first, the initial twenty FA-50s will have to show what they can do in active service. The first FA-50 will be delivered next year, and the last of
them the year after that.

Korea plans to establish a naval fleet to defend the country`s easternmost and southernmost waters. The move is aimed at preventing territorial
disputes with Japan and China while responding to the naval buildup of the two neighbors.

The Russian Air Force is testing and will soon deploy an advanced tactical air-to-air missile that will greatly enhance its operational
effectiveness, the service's commander Col Gen Alexander Zelin said on Tuesday.

The Russian Navy recently released some details of their new SSBN (ballistic missile nuclear subs, or "boomers"). The new Borei class boats make
extensive use of modern electronics. It’s all digital and flat screens inside. Lots of microprocessors and modern sonar, which the navy insisted
would make these boats more aware of their underwater surroundings than previous designs.

The United States and its NATO allies already have about one thousand missiles capable of intercepting Russia’s intercontinental ballistic
missiles, the Russian deputy premier in charge of defense said.

This BS continues, Russia will put more warheads on their missiles, withdraw from treaties and put missiles in Kaliningrad.

A year ago, the president of Russia ordered an extensive financial audit of senior generals and admirals. The auditors found corruption and
irregularities in every branch of the military. Not so much outright theft, but more using ones rank and connections to start businesses on the side.
Some of these enterprises made the officers quite wealthy. It was found that they went to great lengths to hide this additional outcome by parking it
overseas and putting it in the name of wives, children, or other kin. The auditors also found that when these senior officers were caught, the most
severe punishment they received was to be retired from the armed forces. They kept their modest pensions, and all the money they were making on the
side. Some officers, who stole money or equipment, were caught and received harsher punishment. There were also other officers who seemed to have more
unreported income than their secret businesses indicated. The extra cash was probably from bribes.

When the Cold War ended in 1991, the Russian army began to rapidly shrink. It was believed that the eight airborne divisions would shrink along
with rest of the army. But that was not the case. Airborne commanders made a convincing case that their elite troops would remain professional and
increasingly be among the few combat troops that could really be depended on. Thus the airborne force did not shrink as much as other ground
troops.

A failed plot to oust the Bangladesh government, by what the army described as "religiously fanatic" officers, has raised questions over the level
of Islamist penetration in the military, analysts say.

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China : Lost At Sea

While the Chinese government has said nothing, there's been lots of unofficial buzz from China indicating that several JL (Julang) 2 SLBM (Sea
Launched Ballistic Missile), were recently test fired. One media report showed what appeared to be missile components that a Chinese fisherman had
brought up in his nets. Taiwanese defense officials confirmed that some launches had taken place in December. The JL-2 needs some tests, especially
successful ones.

China had lots of problems with the JL-2, which was supposed to have entered service four years ago, but kept failing test launches. If the recent
JL-2 tests actually took place, and were successful, that would have been the kind of good news worth releasing. In China, bad news is no news at all.

China's Vice President Xi Jinping, who is widely expected to be his country's next leader, will meet President Barack Obama during a Valentine's
Day visit to the White House next month, officials said.

China, fearful that North Korea could be plunged into turmoil following the death of Kim Jong Il, is casting a watchful eye over its longtime yet
unpredictable ally in case its own national security is threatened.

“How to stabilize the situation in the coming six months will be the make-or-break issue,” a Chinese military source said.

Officially, both the PLA and the government have denied the possibility that China would send its troops to North Korea to put its nuclear facilities
under control or regain order in times of crisis.

However, a military source said: “Our forces have enhanced mobility. We will be able to enter Pyongyang in a little more than two hours if
necessary.”

Duh. China will not let Korea become united and put US troops right on the Chinese border, a few hundreds kilometers from Beijing. From western North
Korea to Beijing : 600 km.

The Chinese people are increasingly frustrated with the Chinese Communist Party and the political situation in China is "very, very delicate,"
U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke said on Wednesday.

"I do believe that there is a power of the people, and there is a growing frustration among the people over the operations of government, corruption,
lack of transparency, and issues that affect the Chinese people on a daily basis that they feel are being neglected," Locke told NPR's Steve Inskeep
during a Wednesday interview, part of a media blitz Locke is conducting during his visit to Washington.

The Chinese armed forces have gone through a largely unnoticed transformation in the last decade. In the 1990s, a lot of the troops were farmer's
sons who needed work and didn't have many non-agricultural skills. It was, as the Chinese like to say, a "peasants army." There were many
shortcomings, the main one being that none of the officers or NCOs had any combat experience and the troops had to be taught a lot of new skills.

Today, most of the troops are better educated, more experienced, and largely from urban areas. Most of these troops are single children, the result of
the "one child" policy. Officially introduced in 1978, this draconian solution to population growth did not really get going until the 1980s. In the
last decade, nearly all the new recruits came from single child families. Often called "little princes" they were lavished with all the attention
usually spread among many more kids. Often described as spoiled, these kids did get more adult attention, better education and more of everything.
They enter the military with lots of skills (computer, driving, learning new stuff in a hurry).

The army has found that this new generation is much more capable and quick to learn.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy conducted exercises in the South China Sea with a 10-warship flotilla, including China's first
amphibious hover landing craft, China Military Online reported Jan. 12.

Israel has announced the sale of a $1.6 billion anti-missile system. All that was said about the customer was that it was not India and was
Asian.

That said, the most likely "Asian customer" is Taiwan, Japan or South Korea.

From what I have read elsewhere, it's not South Korea... and I doubt it's Japan since it would be of no use because the Arrow system is only for short
and medium range missiles. So my guess is Taiwan to protect themselves against the 1600+ missiles aimed at them. And the deal is ``secret`` for now to
not piss off China. If China does it's job, they know it's Taiwan buying this.

Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou's re-election is a relief for China and the US, but observers say he could face a tough second term, forced to
balance demands from Beijing with fears he is selling out.

"This is the best-case scenario for cross-strait relations," Chu Shulong, an international relations expert at Beijing's Tsinghua University, said of
the victory for Ma and his Kuomintang party.

"Ma's victory will ensure that the stability and peaceful development between the two sides in the past four years can continue," he said.

"There's no mandate for moving faster than Ma has done thus far. The gradual approach while affirming Taiwan's autonomy is popular," said Clayton
Dube, a Taiwan expert at the University of Southern California.

The big question is if China is satisfied with the current measured pace or if it would like more boldness in Taipei, moving from economic issues to
more sensitive political ones, such a peace treaty to formally end the civil war.

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Myanmar : Ceasefires All Around

The government ordered the army to halt military operations throughout the tribal territories (northern and eastern Burma). A month ago the
government had issued a similar order, but the fighting continued. This raised questions about how much control the recently elected government had
over the army.

The United States moved to restore full diplomatic relations with Myanmar on Friday, rewarding the sweeping political and economic changes that
the country’s new civilian government has made, including a cease-fire with ethnic rebels and, only hours before, the release of hundreds of
political prisoners.

Indonesia has signed a contract to buy six more Su-30 jet fighters from Russia for $78 million each. Indonesia already has ten Su-27s and Su-30s,
but wants at least 16 of these modern aircraft so they will have a full squadron. Although expensive, the Russian fighters are modern, and look great.
They are also relatively cheap to maintain. This was all part of a plan to switch from American fighters (ten F-16s and 16 F-5s) to Russian Su-27s and
30s. But used F-16s are so much cheaper than Su-27s, and the public pressure forced the Indonesian politicians to hang on to the F-16s, and upgrade
existing F-16s, an expensive proposition that appeals to corrupt Indonesian officials.

The generals believe the Russian fighters are a better match for the F-18Es and MiG-29s that neighboring Malaysia is acquiring, and the F-35s that
Australia is buying. But the F-16s have a proven combat record that the Su-27s and Su-30s lack.

On December 30, India floated out its first locally built aircraft carrier, the INS Vikrant. Construction began three years ago, but was delayed a
bit because Russia was late in supplying the high-grade steel needed for the hull. The Vikrant was not supposed to leave dry dock yet but the dock was
needed for another project. Construction will go on, with pipes, conduits, and other fittings installed. Later this year, Vikrant will return to
another dry dock to have its engines and other major equipment installed. This 40,000 ton vessel won't be ready for sea trials until 2015.

Israel Aerospace Industries has signed a four-year, $1.1 billion deal with India for aircraft, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and intelligence
systems, a major boost for the Jewish state's high-tech defense sector in an increasingly export-driven global market.

India will continue doing business with Iran and does not see a reason to seek a waiver from the United States that would protect buyers of
Iranian oil from a new round of sanctions, an unnamed senior Indian Cabinet minister said Jan. 12, Reuters reported.

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